Process of and apparatus for the treatment of tow



March 16 1926.

, 1,577,240 J. E. LAPPEN PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT TOW Filed Jan. 29, 1925,

#ZZYZW (Toma; ELq an v Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,577,240 PATENT. ounce.

JAMES E. LAPPEN, OF CROKSTON, MINNESOTA.

PBOCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TOW.

Application filed January 29, 1925. Serial No. 5,617.

To'aZZ whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, JAMES E. a citizen of the United States, residing at Crookstomin the county of Polk and State a of Minnesota, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for the Treatment of Tow; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same My invention provides an improved process of and apparatus for the treatment of tow and other fibrous materials with a germicide or insect-destroying fluid, such as sulfur dioxide vapors, and, generally stated, it consists of the novel treatment, devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

found that these bugs or insects will con tinue their reproduction after the tow has been incorporated as upholstering in furni-' ture and the like. Of course, these bugs are seriously objectionable not only because they leave the tow and crawl about the furniture in the room, but for the reason that they also damage the tow and the upholstering ,cl oth. The tow used for upholstering and any other purposes must be kept dry, and hence it cannot be treated with any of the bug-destroying or insecticidal liquids. Attempts have been made to destroy the insect life in tow by subjecting the same, while in loose condition, to various insectdestroying gases, but the success of this treatment is only partial because the gas applied to the tow in loose condition will remain commingled therewith but for a very short time and not for a sufficient length to destroy the larva, which, hatching later, produces further" bug lifein the tow or in the upholstering material. I

I have found that, by subjecting the tow, while in loose condition, to a strong blast of germ-destroying or insecticidal gases, such as sulfur dioxide fumes, and by then compressing the tow into very compact condition, such as pressed bales, while still thoroughly permeated with the strong gases, the

LAPPEN,

gases will be caused not only initially to tow for a sufficient time either to complete the destruction of the larvae or to destroy the bugs or insects when hatched. The hatching'period of -most of the bugs or insects found in tow isstpproximately from four to eight days, and I havefound that much of the sulfur dioxide fumes will remain in the compressed or tightly baled tow for several weeks, sometimes as long as thirty days. Thorough and extensive tests of this process have shown the most satis factory results.

The process may be carried out by any suitable apparatus, but preferably I employ an apparatus. the main features of which are illustrated in the single view of drawing, which is a vertical longitudinal section, some parts being diagrammatically indicated.

Of the parts of the apparatus illustrated, the numeral 1 indicates the cylinder and the numeral 2 the plunger of a tow press. The cylinder is provided with a receiving hopper 3 and with 'a detachable head 4. The plunger 2 may be reciprocated by any suitable means, but, as shown, is connected by a long pitman' 5 to a power-driven chain 6 that runs over sprockets 7. The numeral 8 indicates an endless conveyor that deli ers the tow y to the hopper 3. The numeral 9 indicates a gas or vapor retort containing a-suitable gas or vapor-producing material, such as sulfur y, shown as held on a rate 10, through which air may be drawn in to support the combustion of the sulfur. The retort 9 is connected by a pipe llto a blower 12, the discharge spout of which is connected to a vapor delivery pipe 13 that terminates in a nozzle 14 locatedin the hopper 3 in position to discharge a blast of hot sulfur dioxide fumes or vapor directly against and through the loose tow as it is being delivered into the cylinder and after it has been delivered into the cylinder and immediately before it is compressed. The tow delivered into the cylinder will be compressed by movement of the plunger 2 to-' ward the head t. The cylinder head 4 will be detachably secured by suitable or well knownmeans and, after the tow has been compressed in the cylinder in a very comon soioo'bie men iiii iii:

1 i emreci o Wire some seems to be higiflj? imooe" suiifur dioxide "fumes tow Whiie still quite i106 oi hence the retort is connec te ooint oi": discharge soci the loo-stem the ciciiver of the soifur dioxide W out I claim is:

The process of tl'eetim fibrous Tifll for the destruction 0}. life, which consists in peso with so iosecticidsl gas W11 diiaioio, smi in compressing suci teirioi into compact form "Whi siiii permeoteci with such gas.

Thepcocess of treating: fi rous moieiisi for the destruction of one; mi life, which consists in permei with on insecticicioi gas While elitism in compressing such iiei inio compact form 'WhiiG steel with such gas, end. imii compressed. in its compose e; fibrous of one; one mew erzmeoting; the too? end in compressing such fibrous 11110 com'ooei; :lovm whiie s 'aiii. oer-- mill suci'i c e process 0.. Meeting fibrous TO The dessruction of bug; and; ioseei: Woich consists in permesoing; the sow-s i suifiur dioxide gas While in loose con ion, and in compressing such fibrous may tei-iei int-o compose form While stiii perme ii W 11 such e eppeioeus for use in erecting; fibrous mske isi. for the ciestruction of oug" ozlci insect life comprising o fibre press bowing; :1 receiving; hopper, means for peoc'mcing so iosecticicisi gens, anti means for dciivering; such gas into the loose fibre "WilGTQ it passes from the hopper to soici and at the piece "Where it is to e co) s ""57 testimony "whereof I aflis my signs JAMES E. LIiPPEN.

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